Marriage Can Drive Women To Drink
According to new findings from the American Sociological Association a long-term marriage curbs men’s drinking, but women actually drink more. Could this mean that marriage benefits men more than women?
What the Research Says:
Two studies from Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania show that there has been a shift in happiness since the 1970s, when women claimed to be happier than men. One of the studies explains that since the 1960s, men have cut back on unpleasant activities and relax more. On the other hand, women are taking on more tasks than they did four decades ago. They have replaced housework with working outside the home, yet are still responsible for the house work. This means that a woman’s "to do" list has increased with less time to do everything. As a result, a woman feels stressed, under-accomplished and fatigued! How can anyone be happy with all that on her plate?
According to Dr. D. A. Bangasser’s research as published in Molecular Psychiatry female rats are affected by lower levels of stress than their male rat counterparts and do not adapt to higher stress levels like male rats, a process called internalization. The study concludes that higher stress disorders in women could have a similar biological response. In short, women feel stress more intensely than men and get into a negative loop.
The obvious question, even though it is rhetorical: Why can’t women relax more? Essentially, women believe that they have the power to fix things for others. And when they don’t succeed, they might turn to alcohol to relax. In some communities mothers get together and sip wine while their young children play, “We need to unwind.”
I wondered why so many women are infatuated with Fifty Shades of Gray. Perhaps, we are so used to abusing ourselves with endless tasks and playing the role of the rescuer that we look for it in our novels finding an external abuser to beat us up in a love relationship!
It’s time to put back the fun in dysfunctional. "If everything seems under control," said auto racer Mario Andretti, "you're probably not moving fast enough."
5 healthy ways to disconnect from stress and reap the benefits of your relationship
For more information on managing your stress and reclaiming your life read my book, Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life. To listen to archived radio shows with guest experts visit Turn On Your Inner Light Radio Show
What the Research Says:
Two studies from Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania show that there has been a shift in happiness since the 1970s, when women claimed to be happier than men. One of the studies explains that since the 1960s, men have cut back on unpleasant activities and relax more. On the other hand, women are taking on more tasks than they did four decades ago. They have replaced housework with working outside the home, yet are still responsible for the house work. This means that a woman’s "to do" list has increased with less time to do everything. As a result, a woman feels stressed, under-accomplished and fatigued! How can anyone be happy with all that on her plate?
According to Dr. D. A. Bangasser’s research as published in Molecular Psychiatry female rats are affected by lower levels of stress than their male rat counterparts and do not adapt to higher stress levels like male rats, a process called internalization. The study concludes that higher stress disorders in women could have a similar biological response. In short, women feel stress more intensely than men and get into a negative loop.
The obvious question, even though it is rhetorical: Why can’t women relax more? Essentially, women believe that they have the power to fix things for others. And when they don’t succeed, they might turn to alcohol to relax. In some communities mothers get together and sip wine while their young children play, “We need to unwind.”
I wondered why so many women are infatuated with Fifty Shades of Gray. Perhaps, we are so used to abusing ourselves with endless tasks and playing the role of the rescuer that we look for it in our novels finding an external abuser to beat us up in a love relationship!
It’s time to put back the fun in dysfunctional. "If everything seems under control," said auto racer Mario Andretti, "you're probably not moving fast enough."
5 healthy ways to disconnect from stress and reap the benefits of your relationship
- If your dreaming about a Hollywood soul mate, realize that any good intimate relationship generates a soul mate.
- speeds up wound healing? You don’t even need to talk.
- Stop being the household generator. Everyone does not need to be plugged into you.
- Observe doctors, pilots and other high risk professionals. They know that fatigue can lead to dangerous errors, so they work together like a team to help each other out. Consequently, they have improved coping skills and optimistic resiliency than those who face their fatigue alone. Ask for help and delegate!
- Find a hobby that you are passionate about where you lose track of time and space. Creativity in one area transfers to another. Breathe new life into your relationship instead of numbing it.
For more information on managing your stress and reclaiming your life read my book, Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life. To listen to archived radio shows with guest experts visit Turn On Your Inner Light Radio Show
